Aryna Sabalenka got over on Iga Swiatek in the Madrid Masters final today with a powerful 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win over the world No. 1.

Sabalenka wins her second Madrid title and her fifth title of 2023. She’s now 29-4 on the season and avenges a loss two weeks ago to the Polish star in the Stuttgart final.

“To have this win, especially on clay, that’s something unbelievable,” she said after her first clay win over Swiatek. “I’m really happy that I’m able to fight against her and I’m able to get these wins so it’s not like so super boring for people to watch our matches.”

It was a rollercoaster of a match, but the trend was real.

Sabalenka would break at 3-all in the first winning the last three games of the set. The Belarussian was hammering balls off both wings and cracking her serve.

Swiatek would turn it around in the second, going up 3-0. Then Sabalenka would get back winning the next three before Swiatek took the last three games to force a decider.

In the third, Sabalenka would resume her power dominance and jump out to 3-0. Then once again, Swiatek would win three straight to level. And yup, Sabalenka proved too strong, too tough as she took the last three of the match, finally getting the job done on her fourth match point in the 5-3 service game.

“It’s always tough battles against Iga,” Sabalenka told the WTA. “She always pushes me to the limits. I really enjoy our battles. Hopefully we can play many more finals this season.”

“[The third set] wasn’t easy at all, but I kind of expect something like that from Iga, that she’s gonna fight for the last point,” she added. “Super happy how I was able to mentally handle this situation and to keep fighting and keep trying.”

After a dominated 2022, things are so rosy for Swiatek who hasn’t won a WTA 1000 title this year after five a year ago.

Swiatek still leads Sabalenka 5-3 and 3-1 on clay. On on the slick surface, she’s still the best.

“We just played on a good level, but [Sabalenka] was better today,” Swiatek said to the WTA. “Maybe sometimes I could be more proactive, but honestly, I think we both played good. I don’t have any big regrets.”

“Sometimes it’s tougher, sometimes it’s easier,” she added. “That’s why we have variety in tennis, and that’s why sometimes players are playing better on some surfaces and some on different [surfaces]. But it doesn’t really matter because she won, and I just respect that and I don’t want to take it from Aryna.”

Next up for both players in Rome next week where Swiatek will try to defend her title.